College football notebook: Alabama takes over top spot in rankings

Alabama is the new No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings, with Clemson up to No. 2 and Miami and Oklahoma joining the top four for the first time.

Wisconsin was fifth and Auburn was up to sixth in the rankings released Tuesday.

The Crimson Tide had been second behind Georgia in the first two selection committee rankings, but the Bulldogs and previously No. 3 Notre Dame were beaten last weekend, opening up the top for changes.

Clemson moved up from fourth and unbeaten Miami jumped from seventh to third, giving the Atlantic Coast Conference two top four teams. Oklahoma moved up one spot.

Unbeaten Wisconsin moved up from eighth and is the highest-ranked Big Ten team. Auburn is the highest-ranked team with two losses.

Georgia is seventh and Notre Dame is eighth.

Ohio State is back in the top 10 after an impressive victory against Michigan State, and Penn State is 10th. Southern California at 11th is the highest ranked Pac-12 team.

UCF climbed to No. 15, making the undefeated Knights the highest-ranked team from a Group of Five conference. The highest-ranked conference champion from outside the Power Five is guaranteed a spot in the New Year’s Six bowls.

WHEATON: A fifth player charged with battery in the hazing of a teammate at the suburban Chicago school has pleaded not guilty.

James Cooksey, 22, of Jacksonville, Florida, appeared at a Monday arraignment in DuPage County. He’s due back in court Jan. 11 along with the other four who earlier appeared in court in the case. They’ve also pleaded not guilty.

All five are accused of duct-taping their teammate, then dumping him half-naked in a park in March 2016. Each was charged in September with aggravated battery, mob action and unlawful restraint.

The most serious charge carries a maximum five-year prison term.

Their victim also told police his attackers attempted to sodomize him with an object. He has since left the school.

TENNESSEE STATE: A player has been dismissed from the team and expelled from the school for hitting a coach.

TSU Athletics Director Teresa Phillips told The Tennessean that 22-year-old senior defensive end Latrelle Lee, of Dothan, Alabama, was kicked off the team and expelled Monday.

Videos show Lee hitting head strength coach T.J. Greenstone twice in the head, knocking him to the turf on the sideline during the Saturday night game against Southeast Missouri.

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